Feeding Four Thousand

8 In^(A) those days there was again a large crowd, and they had nothing to eat. He called^(B) the disciples^(C) and said to them, ² “I have compassion^(D) on the crowd, because they’ve already stayed with me three days and have nothing to eat. ³ If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way,^(E) and some of them have come a long distance.”

⁴ His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread here in this desolate place to feed^(F) these people?”

⁵ “How many loaves do you have?” he asked them.

“Seven,” they said. ⁶ He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves, he gave thanks, broke^(G) them, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people. So they served them to the crowd. ⁷ They also had a few small fish, and after he had blessed them, he said these were to be served as well. ⁸ They ate and were satisfied. Then they collected seven large baskets of leftover pieces. ⁹ About four thousand were there. He dismissed them. ¹⁰ And he immediately got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod

¹¹ The^(H) Pharisees^(I) came and began to argue with him, demanding of him a sign^(J) from heaven^(K) to test^(L) him. ¹² Sighing deeply in his spirit,^(M) he said, “Why does this generation^(N) demand a sign? Truly I tell you,^(O) no sign will be given to this generation.” ¹³ Then he left them, got back into the boat, and went to the other side.

¹⁴ The disciples had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. ¹⁵ Then^(P) he gave them strict orders: “Watch out! Beware of the leaven^[a](Q) of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”^{(R) 16} They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread. ¹⁷ Aware of this, he said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact you have no bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Do you have hardened hearts?^{(S) 18} Do you have eyes and not see; do you have ears and not hear?^[b](T) And do you not remember?^{(U) 19} When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of leftovers did you collect?”

“Twelve,” they told him.

²⁰ “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you collect?”

“Seven,” they said.

²¹ And he said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?” ^(V)

Healing a Blind Man

²² They came to Bethsaida.^(W) They brought a blind^(X) man to him and begged him to touch him. ²³ He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting^(Y) on his eyes and laying his hands on^(Z) him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”

²⁴ He looked up and said, “I see people—they look like trees walking.”^(AA)

²⁵ Again Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes. The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly. ²⁶ Then he sent^(AB) him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”^[c](AC)

Peter’s Confession of the Messiah

²⁷ Jesus^(AD) went out with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”

²⁸ They answered him, “John the Baptist;^(AE) others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.”^(AF)

²⁹ “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

Peter^(AG) answered him, “You are the Messiah.”^{(AH) 30} And he strictly warned^(AI) them to tell no one about him.

His Death and Resurrection Predicted

³¹ Then^(AJ) he began to teach them that it was necessary for the Son of Man^(AK) to suffer many things and be rejected^(AL) by the elders,^(AM) chief priests, and scribes,^(AN) be killed, and rise^(AO) after three days.^{(AP) 32} He spoke openly about this. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³ But turning around and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan!^(AQ) You are not thinking about God’s concerns^[d] but human concerns.”

Take Up Your Cross

³⁴ Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself,^(AR) take up his cross,^(AS) and follow me.^{(AT) 35} For whoever wants to save^(AU) his life will lose it,^(AV) but whoever loses^(AW) his life^(AX) because of me^(AY) and the gospel^(AZ) will save it.^{(BA) 36} For what does it benefit^(BB) someone to gain^(BC) the whole world^(BD) and yet lose^(BE) his life?^{(BF) 37} What can anyone give in exchange for his life?^{(BG) 38} For whoever is ashamed^(BH) of me and my words^(BI) in this adulterous and sinful^(BJ) generation,^(BK) the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory^(BL) of his Father^(BM) with the holy^(BN) angels.”^(BO)

9 Then he said to them, “Truly I tell you,^(A) there are some standing here who will not taste death^(B) until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”^(C)

¹⁰ I will designate a place^(A) for my people Israel and plant them,^(B) so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have done ¹¹ ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel.^(C) I will give you rest from all your enemies.

“‘The Lord declares to you: The Lord himself will make a house for you. ¹² When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.^{(D) 13} He is the one who will build a house for my name,^(E) and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.^{(F) 14} I will be his father, and he will be my son.^(G) When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals. ¹⁵ But my faithful love will never leave him^(H) as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.^{(I) 16} Your house and kingdom will endure before me^[a] forever,^(J) and your throne will be established forever.’”^(K)

¹³ I continued watching in the night visions,